Costa Rica to host World Press Freedom Day 2013

WPFD208.02.2013 – UNESCOPRESS – Costa Rica will host the main event, organized by UNESCO for the 2013 celebrations of World Press Freedom Day, from 2 to 4 May. The decision was announced today by the President of Republic of Costa Rica Laura Chinchilla, who stressed her country’s commitment to defending freedom of expression and press freedom.

The celebrations will include an international conference on journalist safety and impunity, and the award ceremony on 3 May for the UNESCO / Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize which will be chaired by President Chinchilla and the Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova.

“Press freedom is a fundamental human right.” the Director-General said. “A high visibility event such as World Press Freedom Day will help highlight the achievements made by Costa Rica and by the whole of Latin America in this area and will signal their firm commitment to freedom of expression and press freedom”.

In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 3 May World Press Freedom Day following a Recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO’s General Conference in 1991. It is the occasion to  assess press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

World Press Freedom Day is a global event celebrated each year on 3 May in over 100 different countries but with a main celebration taking place in a specific one.

Source: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/media-services/single-view/news/costa_rica_to_host_world_press_freedom_day_2013/

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